Peru denies US base reports

Lima rejects alleged Bolivian claims that the US is to build a secret military base in Peru.

02 Jul 2008 19:23 GMT

Evo Morales, the Bolivian president, opposes free trade deals with the US [Reuters]

Over the weekend, Morales reportedly said that Peru had agreed to allow a secret US military base in its territory - a claim denied by Peru.

The US state department also said there were no plans to establish a military base in Peru.

Free trade row

Morales, attending a meeting of the Mercosur trade bloc in Argentina, said Garcia was intolerant.

Alan Garcia has also pushed for a tradedeal with the EU [AFP]

"Any president who tells anyone to shut up is ... an undemocratic president who doesn't accept dialogue, who doesn't listen to the people," he said.

Morales has also allegedly encouraged Peruvians to join a national strike on July 9.

He also said Garcia was looking "fat and not very anti-imperialist" lately.

Tensions between Peru and Bolivia have been high since Peru signed a free-trade agreement with the US late last year.

Bolivia has denounced the pact and, along with with Ecuador, has slowed the efforts of Colombia and Peru to negotiate a free-trade deal between the European Union and the Andean community.

This week, the EU cancelled talks with the four-nation Andean bloc that were set for July, citing discord among its members, Ecuador's foreign ministry said.

Like Venezuela and Bolivia, Ecuador leans to the left, and Rafael Correa, the Ecuadorian president, has opposed renewing a lease that allows US troops to use an air base on its territory for anti-drug operations.

The lease on the base in Ecuador, Peru's northern neighbour, runs out in 2009.